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Observations on green living, parenting and the state of the world from the perspective of a southern mom with more babies than she cares to count. Enjoy my family holiday recipes, dessert recipes and all kinds of cooking tips. I want to hear from all the other mothers that blog, so this blog's comments are dofollow and there are plenty of free online recipes to go around.

Tuesday

Women who have a pregnancy and a baby or two under their belt know that there's lots of stuff to do before giving birth. First-time moms have fun stuff on their to-do list like decorating a nursery for baby, putting together a layette and arranging all those sweet, little baby clothes inside the closet. As a mom that has more than one; I'm here to tell first-timers to go ahead and fold them and put them in the dresser drawers, hang them in the closet or whatever but do not dawdle over this; there are bigger fish to fry and more important things to do right now than making sure the baby's outfits are organized.

The purpose of this article is to send these soon-to-be mommies a message that their world is about to be completely taken over by the love and care of a newborn and the time to indulge yourself a little is now! You see, for the next couple of years, you will come to view taking a little time for yourself even if it’s to perform the most basic of self-maintenance procedures as an almost sinfully delightful self-indulgence.

Here are a few things every pregnant woman should do before the little angel arrives and turns her world topsy turvy. If you are already a parent and pregnant with a second, third or fourth, the recommendations that follow will still apply. You know what’s coming and that’s even more reason for you to take my suggestions and tick off the items on this list! Call the kids’ grandmother, get a sitter and get started!

Spend Time with Friends
Starting with your childless friends, set up lunch dates or invite them to just drop in for a visit. You will not automatically become friendless after baby arrives but you may find yourself having less in common with couples who are child-free. Contact your girlfriends that are already parents and encourage them to get a babysitter so that you can have a nice, long chat and catch up with NO baby talk allowed. Revisit your friendship the way it was pre-baby.

Visit the hairdresser to get a cute, low-maintenance haircut, a do that doesn’t require constant attention to look nice, invest in a mani-pedi so that your toes look pretty in the stirrups and while you’re at it; get a massage. Nobody’s saying to let yourself go after baby arrives but quick fixes are mommy’s best friend. And who wants to take a new baby to the hair salon where the air is filled with the smell of perm solution and hairspray? Not me!

While you’re looking pretty and fresh out of the salon, plan a date night with your significant other. Get reservations at a favorite restaurant that holds special meaning for the two of you as a couple, visit museums or art exhibits that will frown on patrons showing up with a fussy baby in tow. Do adult things that you will not be able to do after giving birth. And cuddle..cuddle a lot!

The future is uncertain but one thing is for sure; your life is about to change. Be spontaneous and make spur of the moment plans; every aspect of your life is about to be on a schedule beyond your control. Now is the time to snuggle, hold hands and take naps together. Give your baby the best gift of all, parents who love and cherish each other.

Thanks for stopping by, Oh Baby Green Living if you have some ideas for solving environmental problems, parenting tips or have something to add to my "pregnancy bucket list" of things to do before giving birth please leave a comment!

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comments:

Pregnancy and birth change you entire life. You should be well prepared that anything would be the same at the very moment you hear your baby first cry. Before that find some time for yourself, for pleasant walks, for parties with friends, for adventures cause now is the right time!

I am one of these first-timers, you are talking about, who spend hours in looking at the so little and sweet baby clothes and layette and often times forget to think about what is ahead of me, when he or she arrives:)You brought me a huge smile, when described that so exact in ur post:)I am loving the idea for scheduling a mani-pedi, so as the advice to cuddling as much as I can with my husband! Amazing post, thanks so much for enlightening me :D